‘Change has to be made’ – National media outlet puts the Tennessee Vols on notice after lackluster performance against Alabama
The Tennessee Vols didn’t play well at all in their 37-20 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday night in Bryant-Denny Stadium
The Tennessee Vols’ 37-20 loss to Alabama was easily one of the worst performances of the Josh Heupel era.
Tennessee played sloppily, committing penalties at the worst possible times, dropping multiple passes, and consistently missing tackles.
Coaching was also an issue for the Vols, especially when it came to situational football.
CBS Sports puts Tennessee on notice after loss to Alabama
CBS Sports’ Will Backus put a couple of Vols assistant coaches — defensive coordinator Tim Banks and wide receivers coach Kelsey Pope — on notice after Tennessee’s sloppy performance against the Crimson Tide.
Backus pointed out Tennessee’s tackling issues, drops from pass catchers, and road game woes as things that need to be fixed for the Vols moving forward.
“Defensively, the Vols cannot tackle,” wrote Backus. “On one play, Tennessee’s defense had Alabama wide receiver Germie Bernard dead to rights 10 yards behind the line of scrimmage. Bernard broke at least five tackles en route to an 18-yard gain.”
“Tennessee’s wide receiver corps — talented on paper — is plagued with horrible drops,” continued Backus. “Tackling and catching are two major sore spots that severely limit Tennessee’s upside. They are also two core tenets of a functional team. Heupel is loyal to his coaches, but a lot of the same units are consistently underperforming. After Tim Banks’ defense carried Tennessee last year, it’s been a liability this season. Outside of 2024, Banks has largely underperformed in his role as defensive coordinator. Though he’s recruited well, Tennessee’s wide receivers have consistently floundered under coach Kelsey Pope’s tutelage.
“Discipline in road games also remains an issue. Tennessee had nine penalties for 63 yards against Alabama. That’s a poor reflection of Heupel himself. Change has to be made if Tennessee and Heupel want to ensure that 2024’s playoff appearance wasn’t a flash in the pan.”
Backus is spot on — these are areas where Tennessee has to improve moving forward. And if things don’t get better as the season progresses, it may be time for Heupel to shake up his coaching staff.
Continuity is important to Heupel, but the Vols can’t continue to drop multiple passes a game, give up third-and-long conversions, and commit drive-killing penalties regularly.
If the Vols want to get over the hump, something has to change. They’ll never be a championship team if they can’t get the little details right.
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Josh Heupel’s biggest flaw is officially a major problem for Tennessee after it cost the Vols a chance to beat Alabama
Tennessee Vols head coach Josh Heupel showed a major weakness against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night
